Diary of a Racketaholic

Got a (K)Six.Two 100", I just got it cause the glossy PJ looked super nice, figured it was so light that I could do some tinkering with it.

The original cushion grip was still on it. It was completely gone, could feel there was no cushioning at all the moment I touched the handle with the worn overgrip still on. Started tinkering:

sK3QqhF.png


Not really optimal, since I don't have a way of measuring SW and not even a scale to weigh it up, I think my dad took it and I couldn't find it, so I just went with it based on listed specs, will get it measured properly later.

Final configuration: 11.5g of lead added at the handle + 2 foam strips inserted in the trapdoor.

2g at 3 and 9 for TW. Slapped on this cushion grip I bet not many of you have seen from a local brand: (14g, 1.8mm thick) and Wilson ultra wrap overgrip.

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Ready to hit the court tomorrow morning:

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Time will tell but I think the new Prince Tour 98 is a pretty good serving stick. One of my regular hitting partners commented that I was bombing with it the other day. Even during one of my first outings with it I felt like I'm getting good pop on the serve but it's been a struggle with other aspects of my game at times.
 
EggSalad said:
Several years ago, I sold @Pneumated1 my V8 18x20 Blades. I holic’d around with who knows how many racquets after that. I eventually landed on the v9 16x19 Blade and really enjoyed that. Of course, common sense went out the window and more holic’ing ensued.

Since last fall I’ve used Dunlop FX 500 Tour, VCore 95, Pure Aero 98, and Mizuno Acrostrike - pretty much going down this path of power/modern tennis blah blah blah.

As it turns out, a guy in his mid 40s who grew up playing in the 80s and 90s has no business trying to play modern power tennis. My muscle memory is just not a thing to change.

I grabbed a couple used v9 18x20 Blades recently and played with them this morning and played lights out.

I guess this is the eb and flow of the power > control frame cycle. However, I think I’m just a 18x20, straight beam, low flex kind of guy.

If anyone sees me drooling over buying a new power frame, please print this post, drive to my house, and smack me across the face with it.

Now to load up on v9s.
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I know I'm one month late to this conversation, but I appreciated this. I had the 18x20 Blade V5 when it came out, but every couple of years I'd seemingly wander away from it. I must have bought it and sold it at least three times within a 10-year span. I felt like feedback on the next few iterations was mixed, to say the least, so I stayed away. But kind of on a lark, I picked up a V8 on FB Marketplace over the weekend, and initial hitting has just been incredible. Simultaneously fun, pure, and simple. It made the Ezone 98 and Speed Pro experiments I'd been running over the past year seem rather silly.

I feel like I should ride with that notion for the time being. To that end, what are your thoughts on the V8 version vs. the V9? Any preferences for one over the other as I might be able to snap up another V8 for a very reasonable price.
 
Update on my (K)Six.Two 100 test:

Tried the frame out for the first time (never had played it before adding the lead) and I loved the feel from the get go. So easy to swing it felt like playing a game on easy mode. I had lots of time to hit the groundstrokes and got some great racket head speed due to how whippy it is.

Some good pop on the serve too, my regular hitting partner was having trouble returning, hitting long or dumping the ball at the net a lot more than usual, and I wasn't even redlining. Could put some good spin on the ball too, even using full bed multi, due to how easy I could accelerate and brush the ball.

Going to practice some more to dial it in and play a match with it on friday, I'll report back after but so far, it's giving me a lot of confidence.
 
While I may have settled for now on a choice of racquet, it hasn’t stopped the itch. This weeks itch comprises two parts, the first one is the low tension itch, so inspired by Monsieur Mannarino at Queens today (I had a days’s leave) I gave the 23PA98 a new bed of Tour Sniper 1.25 at the low low tension of 10kg, I need to give it a try in proper anger against a heavy hitter, but it was a very pleasant half hour swinging away. Plenty of vamos on the forehand and my backhand didn’t have the power of a mouse fart. Will be exploring this again when the time is right. The 2nd itch was from the Speed Tour thread, and oh boy is the ST97 a beaut, the first string job of Nat Gut & Hawk Power and at normal tensions had plenty of feel for drop shots and the like. Again, yet to test it against the 6ft 3in South African slice serving beast that frequents my local club, but you never know…
 
Kozzy said:
They are all for research - the research is never complete.
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Exactly. I jumped back in the pool this week and ordered a WOv2 16x19 to keep in the bag along with my Ez98s.

Only for “fun” and “exploration”. :)

It felt very very nice on the first hit but oh boy I can feel the power drop off compared to an EZ. So many mid court backhands and serves dying on the top of the net. That was a bit surprising to me given how the TW reviews said that they were impressed with the power and pop.

I’ll probably just try a bit of lead at 3/9 and see if that makes it pop more. It looks and feels so nice to be using a classic straight beam again that it’s a shame I didn’t play so well with it.
 
Dre2010 said:
I know I'm one month late to this conversation, but I appreciated this. I had the 18x20 Blade V5 when it came out, but every couple of years I'd seemingly wander away from it. I must have bought it and sold it at least three times within a 10-year span. I felt like feedback on the next few iterations was mixed, to say the least, so I stayed away. But kind of on a lark, I picked up a V8 on FB Marketplace over the weekend, and initial hitting has just been incredible. Simultaneously fun, pure, and simple. It made the Ezone 98 and Speed Pro experiments I'd been running over the past year seem rather silly.

I feel like I should ride with that notion for the time being. To that end, what are your thoughts on the V8 version vs. the V9? Any preferences for one over the other as I might be able to snap up another V8 for a very reasonable price.
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There is pretty much no playability difference between the v9 and v8. V9 is a tad crisper/stiffer feeling but that’s only because the v8 is pure butter feel. I love the v8 and would be very happy if I had a stash of them. I do have a stash of v9s and have no desire to seek out anything else.
 
I guess I'll break the spell - not sure i've seen 3 full days go by without a post here! Anyway, I played a little tournament over the weekend, the operative word being little, which is to say I played two matches and won (semis and final). I have found my groove serving with the C10 Evo, and was hitting my spots really well, which made for smooth sailing. Of course, I got a little nervy serving up a break at 4-3 in the 2nd, but then settled back in to serve it out without much drama. Does anyone else usually have at least one terrible service game per match? Even on my best days, I seem to go off the rails at least once.

But yeah, the C10 EVO is A++ for me right now. Honeymoon still going strong.
 
jimdontcare said:
Fritz with one of the most anti-racketaholic stories I've ever heard
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That's awesome - I actually think that, within reason, my performance is probably almost the same with every racquet. Obviously, playing on the extreme ends of weight/SW might be a different story. So, if results are all you look at, I'm with Fritz. But, I would not enjoy playing with just any racquet and I think that holds for most of us here, and that's probably what makes us 'holics.
 
I think it really depends on the player. He’s never cared about the racket, and some players are super dialed in with their rackets or customized themselves (Thiem, Murray, Bublik etc).
 
Kozzy said:
I guess I'll break the spell - not sure i've seen 3 full days go by without a post here! Anyway, I played a little tournament over the weekend, the operative word being little, which is to say I played two matches and won (semis and final). I have found my groove serving with the C10 Evo, and was hitting my spots really well, which made for smooth sailing. Of course, I got a little nervy serving up a break at 4-3 in the 2nd, but then settled back in to serve it out without much drama. Does anyone else usually have at least one terrible service game per match? Even on my best days, I seem to go off the rails at least once.

But yeah, the C10 EVO is A++ for me right now. Honeymoon still going strong.
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I may have missed it but what specs are you running with your C10 Evo?
 
I’ve really gone back to my roots lately - lower‑powered control frames and letting the mass do some of the work with my flatter swing. I’m still chomping at the bit for more AcroStrikes in L3 to get stocked, but in the meantime I’ve been spending more time with the C10 Pro.

I actually ordered a pair from TW that showed up yesterday. At $109 each, how could I not? And I lucked out on the specs: unstrung SW at 295 and 296, static weights at 323 and 325 grams, and both super head‑light. They basically sit right between the C10 Evo which often comes in way under spec and the C10 Pro, which can be a bit much for us mortals over a long session.

For comparison, my existing C10 Pro measured at 335 SW. That number surprised me because it never felt that high thanks to the 20mm beam it still swings fast but it definitely wore me down after a set.
 
Kozzy said:
Right now I'm at about 328g, 33cm balance, and 330 SW. I should really make it 330 grams so I could have complete symmetry (330g/330mm/330SW)... Still loving it. It's in the goldilocks zone for me.
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I think my PA98s were set up with a 325, 32.5, and 325 SW so it is possible to achieve total symmetry.
 
I played three sets of doubles with the C10 Pros last night, and I’m pretty convinced this is the right setup for me in doubles. I haven’t played that well in a while. I’d forgotten how maneuverable thin beamed frames can feel, and this one still has enough mass to keep me from getting pushed around at the net.

I managed all three sets without feeling worn down, but I don’t think I could do that in singles. In doubles you’re simply hitting fewer balls, and serving every fourth game instead of every other one makes it much more manageable to swing a heavier frame like this.
 
I've been quite boring all month, mostly because I'm just grinding it out day after day with the TFight 305S. (I used to just be able to say 305S and you'd know what I meant but now there's a Fire and a TFight). Ever since the Nadal Academy I've been playing 8-9 hours a week and can't seem to put the TFight down. One day after a session I stuck around for 15 minutes to have a warm-down rally with a friend and decided to pick up the PA98 again. With a higher SW and TW than the TFight, it's a bit less whippy; but the big benefit of it is backhands, My 2HBH is much more of a weapon with the PA98, not sure what it is about the "Aero"(ahem)dynamics of that racket but it comes through on the backhand wing with such stability and force that I'm getting angles, depth, and spin on the BH that I can't create with the TFight. My 2HBH is somewhat anemic on the 305S compared to the PA98. In addition, the slices with the PA98 are pretty sick too. They stay low with really accentuated backspin. Even backhand volleys have more punch. Great frame, but for ease of use and more-for-less playability, the TFight is home.
 
So unless I decide to maybe give the Vcore 98 or 100D a go I think the switch for me is gonna come down to Speed Tour or Prince 98. I have been really happy with the feel of the Prince and I've been serving and hitting backhands super well. Forehand is a little bit erratic at times though and this is usually where my switches go to die. Unless it's drastic enough of a difference, I won't sacrifice the forehand. Speed Tour I think I get a little more consistent of a response off that side. Need to play both of them side by side a bit to help decide though.

Uhh in other news for my shoe search too. Settled on the Solution Speed 4s. I've been wearing that line for a long time and was hesitant after hearing about the changes in fit, but I think it might actually work out a little bit better for me feet. Very happy with that shoe so far. Only thing I'm a bit disappointed about is that I bought a pair of white/black ones at full price and then two weeks later I found the black/aurora green on sale in my size. Now I have two pairs :laughing:
 
Grinded out a 3 hour win at near 40 degree C. Zero fun but better to win than lose anyway. No clue if a Prostaff 97 is ideal at this temp but not sure what I'd get more of anything else if I'm moving like a slug and don't have any energy to swing out. At least I can confidently and with control hit the ball way short in the service box.
 
I've been stuck in Vegas for the last 5 weeks where I've had to play in 100+ degree F heat. I hadn't quite put together that that's why my balls have been landing a little longer than usual but I think it has something to do with it -- dry air, hot temps, more depth. Do people sometimes string a little tighter in this heat to counter the effects?
 
Depends on what the weather is like at home compared to LV. It would be too hot for me.

General rule-of-thumb is 4-8# depending on string type and diameter. I normally do about 4# per 10 C°. That's assuming I don't change to something 1 ga thicker.;)
 
TwinCinema said:
I've been stuck in Vegas for the last 5 weeks where I've had to play in 100+ degree F heat. I hadn't quite put together that that's why my balls have been landing a little longer than usual but I think it has something to do with it -- dry air, hot temps, more depth. Do people sometimes string a little tighter in this heat to counter the effects?
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Dry air for sure. Come play in Denver altitude and you will really have to adjust. It’s a different game here. Makes me miss the humidity sometimes.
 
TwinCinema said:
I've been stuck in Vegas for the last 5 weeks where I've had to play in 100+ degree F heat. I hadn't quite put together that that's why my balls have been landing a little longer than usual but I think it has something to do with it -- dry air, hot temps, more depth. Do people sometimes string a little tighter in this heat to counter the effects?
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5 weeks in Vegas would be my own personal hell.
 
EggSalad said:
5 weeks in Vegas would be my own personal hell.
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It’s actually not bad at all (and I have 2 more to go). Driving, parking, and gas prices etc are all much better than my hometown (Los Angeles), and the tennis is great. There's a club with multiple daily liveball offerings for $20 for 90 minutes, or private coaching for $70/hr. If you just wanna hit with a friend, courts are in fantastic shape and $6/hr.

Not to mention the food is fantastic - great sushi, Thai & Korean food, tacos, burgers, and fine dining if you want it. After LA, NYC, and New Orleans, it’s my 4th favorite food city in the States.

Wouldn’t want to live here full time but there are many worse places to spend a summer.
 
TwinCinema said:
I've been stuck in Vegas for the last 5 weeks where I've had to play in 100+ degree F heat. I hadn't quite put together that that's why my balls have been landing a little longer than usual but I think it has something to do with it -- dry air, hot temps, more depth. Do people sometimes string a little tighter in this heat to counter the effects?
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also string dependent, in my experience. Used a 18g soft poly for a while that played very differently during the day compared to at night, so I carried racquets strung 4 lbs apart in 1 lb increments. (You've seen my pile of Dunlops ... )

Using Lynx Tour 17g now and I haven't had to do the same shenanigans.
 
BenC said:
also string dependent, in my experience. Used a 18g soft poly for a while that played very differently during the day compared to at night, so I carried racquets strung 4 lbs apart in 1 lb increments. (You've seen my pile of Dunlops ... )

Using Lynx Tour 17g now and I haven't had to do the same shenanigans.
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Interesting! Makes sense. The two sticks I have strung with a 1.20 medium poly are playing more erratic in these temps, while the one strung with 1.25 Alu is more reliable.
 
amusing anecdote I thought this group would appreciate:

My wife (Korean) asked me (not Korean) to join some of her Korean friends as a 4th player for doubles. She warned them in Korean, be careful - he has a lot of tennis racquets!

Me: hey, what's that supposed to mean?
 
TwinCinema said:
I've been stuck in Vegas for the last 5 weeks where I've had to play in 100+ degree F heat. I hadn't quite put together that that's why my balls have been landing a little longer than usual but I think it has something to do with it -- dry air, hot temps, more depth. Do people sometimes string a little tighter in this heat to counter the effects?
Click to expand...

I string tighter, it depends on the string how much tighter. And, as I experienced yesterday, on your opponent as well.
I started my match with Solinco Tourbite Diamond Rough 1,20mm in my 23 PA100 strung 2kg/4lbs higher than usual. As the opponent pushed me back far behind the baseline, my shots lacked depth anyway. I switched to Gut/Tour M8 which improved the depth again.
 
TwinCinema said:
It’s actually not bad at all (and I have 2 more to go). Driving, parking, and gas prices etc are all much better than my hometown (Los Angeles), and the tennis is great. There's a club with multiple daily liveball offerings for $20 for 90 minutes, or private coaching for $70/hr. If you just wanna hit with a friend, courts are in fantastic shape and $6/hr.

Not to mention the food is fantastic - great sushi, Thai & Korean food, tacos, burgers, and fine dining if you want it. After LA, NYC, and New Orleans, it’s my 4th favorite food city in the States.

Wouldn’t want to live here full time but there are many worse places to spend a summer.
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I didn’t know you were in LA. I just went out there recently with my family and the driving/parking/gas was shocking to me. I bet Las Vegas is so easy comparatively. I’m guessing you are also not on the strip. I’ve really only been to Vegas to stay on the strip (work conferences, birthdays) and that is what feels like such a beat down to me. I should probably go sometime and check out more of what LV has to offer outside of the strips/casinos.

The food is next level for sure and now I want to go take a live ball class and eat sushi.

Sorry for the detour of this thread fellow holics.

My tennis related comment is that I’m going to try a poly/multi set up for the first time in years. No real reason other than just random experimenting.
 
EggSalad said:
My tennis related comment is that I’m going to try a poly/multi set up for the first time in years. No real reason other than just random experimenting.
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The only one I’ve ever tried is Velocity/Hawk, and I really really liked it. I’m pretty spinny for my 4.0 level and I still liked it quite a bit. Problem is it breaks in like 3 hours for me which is just not sustainable. But I’d recommend that combo to anyone just messing around
 
tim-ay said:
you wouldn't have missed it on Saturday. I was fking dying. All the bike riding and exercise and nothing like a humid day when you're right on the edge to make you feel like jelly roll
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Could be back in the soup sooner than later. Weird housing market but i could be back in time to really feel the beautiful August/september sloshy shoe experience.
 
Power Player said:
Could be back in the soup sooner than later. Weird housing market but i could be back in time to really feel the beautiful August/september sloshy shoe experience.
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ah, the time of year when the dog protests walking after 7am or before 8pm. I'm tempted to copy the dog.

I love the Florida feel, but it can be brutal. Although France is brutal these days (and many other places) so there is plenty of heat to go around. Tough to leave Colorado, it's such a great place. Sometimes I think about buying something small to have for later in Louisville, Superior, or Arvada until I look at the prices....
 
tim-ay said:
ah, the time of year when the dog protests walking after 7am or before 8pm. I'm tempted to copy the dog.

I love the Florida feel, but it can be brutal. Although France is brutal these days (and many other places) so there is plenty of heat to go around. Tough to leave Colorado, it's such a great place. Sometimes I think about buying something small to have for later in Louisville, Superior, or Arvada until I look at the prices....
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Yeah its really a great place, but family stuff arose and we know so many people in FL. My tennis has also suffered a little since I have been here. It's a lot harder to find regular players, a lot of people here are seasonal and a lot of my teammates are banged up and don't play as much. In florida, I think I played 4-5x a week without fail. Once you have to play indoors here, it's brutally hard to find a court. Plus, you can wail the ball at sea level and it stays in. It's a different game up here, I never really felt like adjusting 100% to it.

But the low humidity, views, mountain weekends are all fantastic.
 
Power Player said:
Yeah its really a great place, but family stuff arose and we know so many people in FL. My tennis has also suffered a little since I have been here. It's a lot harder to find regular players, a lot of people here are seasonal and a lot of my teammates are banged up and don't play as much. In florida, I think I played 4-5x a week without fail. Once you have to play indoors here, it's brutally hard to find a court. Plus, you can wail the ball at sea level and it stays in. It's a different game up here, I never really felt like adjusting 100% to it.

But the low humidity, views, mountain weekends are all fantastic.
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I get it. What eventually got to me was ... and this is insane... how dry it is. I love the Western US and the low humidity, but there is nothing quite like that warm blanket feeling eating dinner outside at 9:30pm. As much as it sucks for tennis & exercise in general, tropical humidity is just something I love. The ocean is warm, the air is wonderful, and girls wear bikini's. And with Graham Swamp, Santos+ others, and miles of gravel biking, riding is more acceptable than one would believe.

Even though our educated to idiot ratio is a little low, I can make the trade.
 
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